Met announces 500 town centre police across London including Woolwich and Lewisham
The Metropolitan Police have announced 500 officers will be based in town centres across London as part of a new strategy.
Nineteen teams are to be established across London including Woolwich and Lewisham town centres.
Woolwich saw its police station sold almost a decade ago.
The Met state officers will be patrolling day and night.
The full list of towns to see town centre police are:
Westminster, West End.
Barking and Dagenham, Barking.
Redbridge, Ilford.
Croydon, Croydon.
Bromley, Bromley.
Lewisham, Lewisham.
Greenwich, Woolwich.
Lambeth, Brixton.
Hillingdon, Uxbridge
Hounslow, Hounslow.
Camden, Camden and Euston.
Haringey, Wood Green.
Enfield, Edmonton.
Kingston Upon Thames, Kingston.
Hackney, Shoreditch.
Brent, Wembley and Harlesden.
Newham, Stratford.
Could this simply push the crime/criminals into the un-patrolled areas like Greenwich centre, Plumstead, Charlton, Blackheath etc? Why not admit that we need ‘beat’ officers everywhere not just in the current higher crime centres?
“ Woolwich saw its police station sold almost a decade ago.”
As did Greenwich town centre; courtesy of Mayor Boris Johnson.
Greenwich centre already received it’s quotient of criminals shortly after, when multiple stabbings ensued.
Someone’s going to similarly make a killing on the apartment block that replaces the police station.
Woolwich town centre is certainly a hub for ASBO activity.
All areas need a stronger Police presence 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Woolwich certianly does have more than it’s fair share of anti social behaviour and crime but then so does the rest of the Borough of Greenwich.
The lack of police is due to decades defunding of public services under Tory austerity policies. The culture and values inherent in policing also always follows the character of the ruling party: whenever a county has a right-wing, authoritarian government the police abuse their power. Giving more power to the police under those circumstances isn’t a good option.